Crew

After marrying over 13 years ago, we still love being on the water.  JT and I are both born and raised Southerners.  I am a graduate from Clemson University with a BS degree in Forestry, plus post graduate studies in GIS mapping, Statistical Analysis, etc.  JT is a graduate from University of Southern Mississippi with a BA degree, and is a reverend in the ULC who does christening of boats, denaming and renaming ceremonies, and even weddings on boats or land.  Contact us for more information on bottom left of this website. 
Laughter and Music fills our boat.

Greek life: Kappa Alpha Theta alumnus and Pi Kappa Phi alumnus

As a young child I would refer to myself as Yachty.  Even my grandmother would call me that until she passed.  We were a landlocked family who did not get into motor boating until my high school years.   First was the pontoon boat, which I had fun partying with friends.  Next was the powerboat, "Y Not", which my mother loved the speed, but I preferred the quiet and oneness of nature in the green Old Town 2-person canoe (which I used by myself) if only the wind would not spin me around so.  Later sailing was introduced to me, and I fell into deep love.  My love for JT, our dogs, and sailing continues to grow stronger.

After sailing on the lakes for years, we finally took the ASA 101 class for Keelboat certification on Clear Lake and Galveston Bay.  JT returned to complete the ASA 103/104 combo course (Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering) in the dead of a Texas winter.  To advance my sailing knowledge I rented the five Annapolis School of Seamanship videos from Netflix which had some very helpful information about sailing offshore and dead reckoning, but the radio directional finder info was outdated.  For four years we were without our own boat, but acted as crew on a few sailboats.  Now we can charter bigger boats on the islands.

Married on the ELISSA, the official tall ship of Texas, by a family friend, we continued our journey on the water.  We had volunteered 20+ hours each (3-4 Saturdays) on the maintenance of the tall ship before our wedding day which entailed me driving to Galveston from Mississippi every 2 weeks to protect the decks, to practice using the fire hose, to scrap paint, to hand sand the dinghies, and more with only period (late 19th century) tools.
Foresters make perfect Sailors


With the love of cooking from scratch (butter, bread, cheese), growing my own vegetables, and the science of foods, I create my own recipes, and keep making the dishes better.  After successfully passing my first cooking course SPU27X from Harvard's Physics department, I have a better understanding of how temperature, oxygen, acids, proteins, gluten, glucose, alcohol, and bases work together on a molecular level in our food.

Study the stars with me by practicing celestial navigation more on the seas (video by William F. Buckley, Jr).  I audited ASTRO1x, Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe through edx.org which is taught by Paul and Brian, brilliant astrophysicists which is about how our elements were created since the Big Bang, and our universe is expanded faster as it gets farther away. Learn more about celestial bodies and the sea from US Navy.


We make our own music, or add some accompaniment to better tunes I beat my djembe to our dogs' amusement in time with tails wagging against the mast, while JT plays his "Baby Martin" (aka Little Martin).


Freedom to the Sea is what we seek.  Boats are made to move, and anchors and chains are just temporary.  Maintain our boat, our home upon the water.  Young hearts and light spirits guide us to new wonders.  Let's set the sails and go.


Loving and positive sentiments are only allowed on our vessels.
The Elissa, Tall Ship, Galveston, on our Wedding Day as my Father walks to the stern with the hymeneal decorations.
Yachty at the Helm of the Elissa
Pinning my love's rose
Honeymooning in Costa Rica and Loving County, Texas, exploring the lava fields and beaches of Hawaii, and coastal hopping along Texas, we have had extraordinary and wonderful adventures that we may begin to plan, but still let serendipity lead us the rest of the way.


I prefer the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  After returning from the outer banks of North Carolina and the beaches on the Pacific coast, I do not like the cold water of either ocean.  Now we may have brown soil around Texas which makes the water look dirty, but the water is quite warm.  The white sands and clear blue waters are not that far away.  Once we hit Mississippi Sound (with its Quartz from Appalachian granite) or South Padre Island, then we can see right to the white sandy bottom.


Week One of Honeymoon, Pacific Ocean shore of Costa Rica
Week Two of Honeymoon in Loving County, Texas (Mentone)
Living below our means and keeping life simple allows us to save for our sailing trips.  Our big one was from April 20 until May 16, 2011.  It was our first real shakedown cruise.

First, learned that if a battery gets low on water, then replace it. The problem was that it would drain down the rest of the batteries. (Best to get the gel (AGM) batteries)

Second, the salt water will cause all metal to rust quickly (weekly clean the boat of any and all rust stains).

Third, we did not loose weight on the boat (dogs did) and my muscle tone went down (enjoyed too many nightly margaritas).  Need to pump weights and pull lines more.  Walking in the woods for eight hours a day sure did keep my weight off for years, but now my work and body is changing.

On another long cruise, we took only one agile canine and saw the multiple benefits of creating the Quickie Guides for Sailing Destinations to find safe passage and nightly stays along the way especially if traveling with other boaters.